U.S. patent application number 13/765379 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-22 for battery equalization circuits for series charging/discharging and controlling methods thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY. The applicant listed for this patent is Cheng Kung University. Invention is credited to Jiann-Fuh Chen, Yi-Yuan Chung, Wan-Yi Horng, Yi-Hsun Hsieh, Tsorng-Juu Liang.
Application Number | 20130214733 13/765379 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48981765 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130214733 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liang; Tsorng-Juu ; et
al. |
August 22, 2013 |
BATTERY EQUALIZATION CIRCUITS FOR SERIES CHARGING/DISCHARGING AND
CONTROLLING METHODS THEREOF
Abstract
Battery equalization circuits for series charging/discharging
and controlling methods thereof are provided. The provided circuit
includes a set of series-connected batteries, a switching converter
and a magnetic element coupled balance circuit including a magnetic
element coupled to the switching converter, wherein the magnetic
element takes a branch current from the switching converter to the
series-connected batteries so as to cause the set of
series-connected batteries to reach a balance.
Inventors: |
Liang; Tsorng-Juu; (Tainan
City, TW) ; Hsieh; Yi-Hsun; (Tainan City, TW)
; Horng; Wan-Yi; (Tainan City, TW) ; Chung;
Yi-Yuan; (Tainan City, TW) ; Chen; Jiann-Fuh;
(Tainan City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cheng Kung University; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
Tainan City
TW
|
Family ID: |
48981765 |
Appl. No.: |
13/765379 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
320/108 ;
320/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 7/0018 20130101;
H02J 5/00 20130101; H02J 7/02 20130101; H02J 7/0014 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
320/108 ;
320/116 |
International
Class: |
H02J 7/00 20060101
H02J007/00; H02J 7/02 20060101 H02J007/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 16, 2012 |
TW |
101105157 |
Jun 20, 2012 |
TW |
101122119 |
Claims
1. A battery equalization circuit, comprising: a balanced
charging/discharging circuit, comprising: a converter; and a
balance circuit, comprising: a set of input terminals; plural sets
of output terminals; plural switches; and a coupled inductor having
a primary winding and plural secondary windings respectively
series-connected to the plural switches, wherein each of the plural
sets of output terminals is connected to a respective one of the
plural switches and a respective one of the plural secondary
windings; and a set of series-connected batteries having plural
batteries, each of which has a positive terminal and a negative
terminal, wherein each of the plural sets of output terminals is
connected to the positive and the negative terminals of a
respective one of the plural batteries, and the set of input
terminals is in one of two states being coupled to and being
series-connected to the converter to cause a branch current to flow
through the plural secondary windings so as to balance the set of
series-connected batteries.
2. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 1, wherein the
balanced charging/discharging circuit further comprises a first and
a second output terminals, the set of series-connected batteries
further comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first
terminal is connected to the first output terminal, the second
terminal is connected to the second output terminal, each of the
plural secondary windings and the plural switches has a first and a
second terminals, the positive terminal of each of the plural
batteries is connected to one of the first terminal of the
respective secondary winding and the second terminal of the
respective switch, the negative terminal of each of the plural
batteries is connected to the first terminal of the respective
switch and the second terminal of the respective switch is
connected to the second terminal of the respective secondary
winding when the positive terminal of each of the plural batteries
is connected to the first terminal of the respective secondary
winding, and the positive terminal of each of the plural batteries
is connected to the second terminal of the respective switch and
the first terminal of the respective switch is connected to the
first terminal of the respective secondary winding when the
negative terminal of each of the plural batteries is connected to
the second terminal of the respective secondary winding.
3. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 2, being used
for charging, wherein the balanced charging/discharging circuit is
a balanced charger being one of an AC to DC charger and a DC to DC
charger.
4. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 3, wherein the
DC to DC charger is one selected from a group consisting of a
buck-flyback charger, a buck-forward charger, a boost-flyback
charger, a boost-forward charger, a half-bridge charger, a
full-bridge charger and an LLC charger.
5. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 4, wherein
each of the buck-flyback charger, the buck-forward charger, the
boost-flyback charger, the boost-forward charger, the half-bridge
charger and the full-bridge charger has a main inductor, the main
inductor is coupled to the primary winding of the coupled inductor,
the LLC charger is an LLC-flyback charger connected to the primary
winding of the coupled inductor in series, the plural switches are
plural diodes, each of the plural diodes has an anode and a
cathode, the first terminal of each of the plural switches is the
anode of the respective diode, and the second terminal of each of
the plural switches is the cathode of the respective diode.
6. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 2, being used
for discharging, wherein the balanced charging/discharging circuit
is a balanced discharger being one of an AC to DC discharger and a
DC to DC discharger.
7. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 6, wherein the
DC to DC discharger is one selected from a group consisting of a
buck-flyback discharger, a buck-forward discharger, a boost-flyback
discharger and a boost-forward discharger.
8. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 7, wherein
each of the buck-flyback discharger, the buck-forward discharger,
the boost-flyback discharger and the boost-forward discharger has a
main inductor, and the main inductor is coupled to the primary
winding of the coupled inductor.
9. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 2, being used
for charging and discharging, wherein the balanced
charging/discharging circuit is a balanced charging and discharging
device being one of an AC to DC charging and discharging device and
a DC to DC charging and discharging device.
10. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 9, wherein
the DC to DC charging and discharging device is one selected from a
group consisting of a buck-flyback charging and discharging device,
a buck-forward charging and discharging device, a boost-flyback
charging and discharging device and a boost-forward charging and
discharging device.
11. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 10, wherein
each of the buck-flyback charging and discharging device, the
buck-forward charging and discharging device, the boost-flyback
charging and discharging device and the boost-forward charging and
discharging device has a main inductor, and the main inductor is
coupled to the primary winding of the coupled inductor.
12. A battery equalization circuit, comprising: a set of
series-connected batteries; a switching converter; and a magnetic
element coupled balance circuit including a magnetic element
coupled to the switching converter, wherein the magnetic element
obtains a branch current from the switching converter, and the
branch current flows to the set of series-connected batteries so as
to cause the set of series-connected batteries to reach a
balance.
13. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 12, wherein
the branch current is used to cause the set of series-connected
batteries to perform one of a charge and a discharge so as to reach
the balance, the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging is selected from a group consisting of a
battery equalization circuit for series charging, a battery
equalization circuit for series discharging and a battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging, the
magnetic element is one selected from a group consisting of a
coupled inductor, a current transformer and a voltage transformer,
the set of series-connected batteries includes plural battery
banks, each of the plural battery banks has at least one battery,
and the magnetic element has plural secondary windings.
14. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 13, wherein
the magnetic element coupled balance circuit includes plural power
switches when the magnetic element is one of the coupled inductor
and the current transformer, each of the plural power switches has
a function being one of rectifying and AC/DC interchanging, there
is at least one power switch between the respective secondary
winding and the respective battery bank, and each of the plural
power switches is one of an active switch and a passive switch,
wherein the active switch is a transistor, and the passive switch
is a diode.
15. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 13, wherein
the branch current of the switching converter has one of a pure AC
component, and an AC component with a DC component, and the
magnetic element is used to provide one of the AC component and the
pure AC component as a balance energy for each of the plural
battery banks.
16. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 15, wherein
one of the current transformer and the voltage transformer further
comprises two primary windings, and when it is one of two states
being that the two primary windings of the voltage transformer
respectively receive two voltage waves having a phase shift of 180
degrees and that the two primary windings of the current
transformer respectively receive two current waves having a phase
shift of 180 degrees, two DC components included in one of the two
voltage waves and the two current waves are subtracted from each
other and diminished such that there is only the AC component
left.
17. A battery equalization circuit according to claim 13, wherein
the magnetic element coupled balance circuit further comprises
plural current limiting elements when the magnetic element is the
transformer, and there is a current limiting element between the
respective secondary winding and the respective battery bank,
wherein the current limiting element is one selected from a group
consisting of a resistor, an inductor and a transistor.
18. A controlling method of a battery equalization circuit, wherein
the battery equalization circuit includes a magnetic element,
comprising a step of using the magnetic element to generate a
branch current from the battery equalization circuit so as to
balance the battery equalization circuit.
19. A controlling method of a battery equalization circuit
according to claim 18, wherein the battery equalization circuit is
one selected from a group consisting of a battery equalization
circuit for series charging, a battery equalization circuit for
series discharging and a battery equalization circuit for series
charging and discharging.
20. A controlling method of a battery equalization circuit
according to claim 19, wherein the battery equalization circuit for
series charging comprises a balanced charger being one of an AC to
DC charger and a DC to DC charger, the battery equalization circuit
for series discharging comprises a balanced discharger being one of
an AC to DC discharger and a DC to DC discharger, and the battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging comprises
a balanced charging and discharging device being one of an AC to DC
charging and discharging device and a DC to DC charging and
discharging device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The application claims the benefits of Taiwan Patent
Application Numbers 101105157 and 101122119, respectively filed on
Feb. 16, 2012 and Jun. 20, 2012, in the Taiwan Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein
in their entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a battery equalization
circuit for series charging/discharging. In particular, the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging relates to a
battery equalization circuit having a magnetic element for series
charging/discharging.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Secondary battery includes various technical types, e.g. the
Lead-Acid battery, the Ni--Cd battery, the Ni-MH battery, and the
Lithium Ion battery all belong to the secondary battery scope. Each
of the single battery of the various types of batteries has a
relatively lower voltage, and multiple batteries are connected in
series to provide the power according to various applied voltages
so as to achieve the requirement of raising the voltage. The common
single batteries have the rated voltages listed as follows, e.g.
the rated voltage of the Lead-Acid battery is 2V, that of the
Ni--Cd battery, or that of the Ni-MH battery is 1.2V, and that of
the Lithium Ion battery is 3.7V.
[0004] When the batteries are connected in series for various
applications, there is an imbalance caused by minor differences of
inner characteristics, aged factor, or various operational
environments. And, the electricity capacity of battery could not be
released completely, and the battery is over discharged are also
phenomena result in the life span of a set of series-connected
batteries being shorter than that of a single battery.
[0005] For solving the aforementioned problems of imbalance, the
electricity capacity of battery could not be released completely,
and the battery is over discharged, when the batteries are
connected in series for various applications, there are battery
equalization circuits for series charging in the prior art.
Currently, the battery equalization circuits for series charging
employed most frequently are the flyback type configurations or
forward type configurations.
[0006] FIG. 1(a) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a first
battery equalization circuit for series charging/discharging in the
prior art. In FIG. 1(a), the first battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging in the prior art includes a (power)
source/load, a charger/discharger, a set of series-connected
batteries 121, including 1.about.N batteries B.sub.1.about.B.sub.N,
a balance circuit and a (power) source (refer to "Charge
Equalization for Series Connected Batteries Strings," IEEE Trans.
on Industry Application, vol. 31, pp. 562-568, no. 3, May/June
1995). FIG. 1(b) shows a schematic circuit diagram of the first
battery equalization circuit for series charging as shown in FIG.
1(a). In FIG. 1(b), it includes a (power) source, a charger, a set
of series-connected batteries including 1.about.N batteries
B.sub.1.about.B.sub.N, a charge equalization converter and a
(power) source. The drawbacks of the first battery equalization
circuit for series charging/discharging in the prior art are: two
sets of circuits, two sets of power sources, separated controls,
and more components are required.
[0007] FIG. 2(a) shows a schematic diagram of a second battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging in the prior
art. In FIG. 2(a), the second battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging in the prior art includes a (power)
source/load, a charger/discharger, a set of series-connected
batteries 121, including 1.about.N batteries B.sub.1.about.B.sub.N,
and a balance circuit (refer to "Design of a Charge Equalizer Based
on Battery Modularization," IEEE Trans. on Vehicular Technology,
vol. 57, pp. 3216-3223, no. 7, September 2009). FIG. 2(b) shows a
schematic circuit diagram of the second battery equalization
circuit for series charging as shown in FIG. 2(a), including a
(power) source, a charger, a set of series-connected batteries
including 1.about.N batteries B.sub.1.about.B.sub.N and a balance
circuit. The drawbacks of the second battery equalization circuit
for series charging/discharging in the prior art are: there might
be one more set of inductor, and separated controls and more
components are required. The above-mentioned prior arts have
respective drawbacks, and thus an improvement is required.
[0008] Keeping the drawbacks of the prior arts in mind, and
employing experiments and research full-heartily and persistently,
the applicant finally conceived a battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging and controlling method thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is a primary objective of the present invention to
provide a battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging and controlling method thereof. The proposed
battery equalization circuit possesses the advantages of having a
lower cost, a flexible control and a simple protection apparatus,
and being easy to maintain, easy to achieve the battery
equalization, and easy to accomplish the battery management.
[0010] According to the first aspect of the present invention, a
battery equalization circuit includes a balanced
charging/discharging circuit comprising a converter, and a balance
circuit comprising a set of input terminals, plural sets of output
terminals, plural switches, and a coupled inductor having a primary
winding and plural secondary windings respectively series-connected
to the plural switches, wherein each of the plural sets of output
terminals is connected to a respective one of the plural switches
and a respective one of the plural secondary windings, and a set of
series-connected batteries having plural batteries, each of which
has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein each of
the plural sets of output terminals is connected to the positive
and the negative terminals of a respective one of the plural
batteries, and the set of input terminals is in one of two states
being coupled to and being series-connected to the converter to
cause a branch current to flow through the plural secondary
windings so as to balance the set of series-connected
batteries.
[0011] According to the second aspect of the present invention, a
battery equalization circuit comprises a set of series-connected
batteries, a switching converter, and a magnetic element coupled
balance circuit including a magnetic element coupled to the
switching converter, wherein the magnetic element obtains a branch
current from the switching converter, and the branch current flows
to the set of series-connected batteries so as to cause the set of
series-connected batteries to reach a balance.
[0012] According to the third aspect of the present invention, a
controlling method of a battery equalization circuit, wherein the
battery equalization circuit includes a magnetic element, comprises
a step of using the magnetic element to generate a branch current
from the battery equalization circuit so as to balance the battery
equalization circuit.
[0013] The present invention can be best understood through the
following descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1(a) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a first
battery equalization circuit for series charging/discharging in the
prior art;
[0015] FIG. 1(b) shows a schematic circuit diagram of the first
battery equalization circuit for series charging as shown in FIG.
1(a);
[0016] FIG. 2(a) shows a schematic diagram of a second battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging in the prior
art;
[0017] FIG. 2(b) shows a schematic circuit diagram of the second
battery equalization circuit for series charging as shown in FIG.
2(a);
[0018] FIG. 3(a) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the first to the twenty-third preferred embodiments of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 3(b) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging when the
charger/discharger as shown in FIG. 3(a) includes a switching
converter and a coupled magnetic element;
[0020] FIGS. 4(a)-4(c) respectively shows a schematic circuit
diagram of a buck-flyback type battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging/charging and discharging according to
the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4(d) shows a schematic circuit diagram of an equivalent
circuit of the buck-flyback type battery equalization circuit for
series charging as shown in FIG. 4(a);
[0022] FIGS. 5(a)-5(c) respectively shows a schematic circuit
diagram of a buck-forward type battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging/charging and discharging according to
the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6(a)-6(c) respectively shows a schematic circuit
diagram of a boost-flyback type battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging/charging and discharging according to
the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 7(a)-7(c) respectively shows a schematic circuit
diagram of a boost-forward type battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging/charging and discharging according to
the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 8 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a half-bridge
type battery equalization circuit for series charging according to
the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 9 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a full-bridge
type battery equalization circuit for series charging according to
the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 10 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an LLC type
battery equalization circuit for series charging according to the
seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) respectively show a first and a second
processing ways of the balance energy in the battery equalization
circuit for series charging/discharging according to the eighth and
the ninth preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0029] FIGS. 12(a)-12(c) respectively show a schematic circuit
diagram of the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging according to the tenth to the twelfth
preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0030] FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) respectively show a schematic circuit
diagram of the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging according to the thirteenth and the fourteenth
preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0031] FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b) respectively show a schematic circuit
diagram of the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging according to the fifteenth and the sixteenth
preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 15 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the seventeenth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIGS. 16(a)-16(c) respectively show a schematic circuit
diagram of the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging according to the eighteenth to the twentieth
preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 17 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the twenty first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 18 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the twenty second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0036] FIG. 19 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the twenty third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0037] Although the following description contains many
specifications for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and
alterations to the following details are within the scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiment of the
invention is set forth without any loss of generality to and
without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.
[0038] FIG. 3(a) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the first to the twenty-third preferred embodiments of the present
invention. In FIG. 3(a), the battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging includes a (power) source/load, a
balanced charger/balanced discharger (including a
charger/discharger, and a magnetic element coupled balance circuit)
and a set of series-connected batteries 121, including 1.about.N
batteries B.sub.1.about.B.sub.N. FIG. 3(b) shows a schematic
circuit diagram of a battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging when the charger/discharger as shown in FIG.
3(a) is a switching converter. In FIG. 3(b), the switching
converter will generate a (DC+AC) signal or a pure AC signal during
the processing procedure, the magnetic element is electrically
connected to the switching converter, and employs the AC signal or
the pure AC signal to provide the balance energy required by the
battery equalization circuit, and the battery set 121 is the set of
series-connected batteries 121 as shown in FIG. 3(a). The magnetic
element is a coupled inductor, a voltage transformer, or a current
transformer, wherein the coupled inductor employs the magnetic
field to store the energy, and releases the energy stored in the
primary side thereof to the secondary side thereof, the current
transformer is employed as an energy channel, does not store any
energy, connects the AC power source at the primary side thereof,
and transmits the energy to the secondary side thereof, and the
voltage transformer is also employs as an energy channel, and
couples the voltage from the primary side thereof to the secondary
side thereof.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 3(b), the core concept of the present
invention is that a branch current is obtained from the switching
converter via the magnetic element, causes a balanced current to be
coupled to the battery set 121, i.e. the required balance energy is
obtained via the magnetic element, and the balance energy is
transmitted to the set of series-connected batteries 121 via
processing (current limiting or DC/AC converting). The energy is
obtained via the coupled voltage of the voltage transformer, and
the energy is processing via current limiting when the magnetic
element is the voltage transformer. The energy is obtained via the
magnetic inductor or the current transformer, and the energy is
processing via DC/AC converting when the magnetic element is the
magnetic inductor or the current transformer.
[0040] FIG. 4(a) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
buck-flyback type battery equalization circuit for series charging
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention. In FIG. 4(a), the buck-flyback type battery equalization
circuit for series charging 21 includes a power source 210 (it is a
DC power source DC), a buck converter 211, a balance circuit for
series-connected batteries 212, and the set of series-connected
batteries 121, wherein the buck converter 211 includes a switch
S.sub.1 (it could be a MOSFET), a flywheel diode D.sub.f, and a
primary winding of the coupled inductor 2111 (N.sub.P is the number
of turns in the primary side, N.sub.S1.about.N.sub.SN indicate that
the respective number of turns in the secondary side and the total
no. of sets is N, and the primary winding of the coupled inductor
2111 is coupled to a main inductor of the converter 211), and the
balance circuit 212 includes the coupled inductor 2111 and N
rectifying diodes D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N.
[0041] FIG. 4(b) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
buck-flyback type battery equalization circuit for series
discharging according to the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 4(b), the buck-flyback type battery
equalization circuit for series discharging 22 includes a load
circuit 220 (including a load resistor R.sub.L and an output
capacitor C.sub.O), a buck converter 221, the balance circuit for
series-connected batteries 212, and the set of series-connected
batteries 121. The differences between the buck converter 221 and
the buck converter 211 of FIG. 4(a) are that the switch S.sub.1 and
the flywheel diode D.sub.f are switching positions.
[0042] FIG. 4(c) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
buck-flyback type battery equalization circuit for series charging
and discharging according to the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 4(c), the buck-flyback type battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging 23
includes a power source/load 230, a buck converter 231, a balance
circuit for series-connected batteries 212, and the set of
series-connected batteries 121. The difference between the buck
converter 231 and the buck converter 211 of FIG. 4(a) is that the
flywheel diode D.sub.f is replaced by a switch S.sub.2.
[0043] FIG. 4(d) shows a schematic circuit diagram of an equivalent
circuit of the buck-flyback type battery equalization circuit for
series charging as shown in FIG. 4(a). The differences between them
are that the anode of each of the plural diodes
D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N, being used as switches, is changed to
connect with the first terminal of the respective secondary
winging, the cathode of each of the plural diodes
D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N is changed to connect with the positive
terminal of the respective plural batteries B.sub.1.about.B.sub.N,
and the second terminal of the respective secondary winging is
changed to connect with the negative terminal of the respective
plural batteries B.sub.1.about.B.sub.N. The equivalent circuit
described here can be applied to the applications of the following
second to the seventh preferred embodiments of the present
invention.
[0044] FIG. 5(a) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
buck-forward type battery equalization circuit for series charging
according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention. In FIG. 5(a), the buck-forward type battery equalization
circuit for series charging 31 includes a power source 210 (it is a
DC power source DC), a buck-forward converter 311, a balance
circuit for series-connected batteries 312, and the set of
series-connected batteries 121, wherein the buck-forward converter
311 includes a switch S.sub.1 (it could be a MOSFET), a flywheel
diode D.sub.f, and a primary winding of the coupled inductor 3111
(N.sub.P is the number of turns in the primary side,
N.sub.S1.about.N.sub.SN indicate that the respective number of
turns in the secondary side and the total no. of sets is N, and the
primary winding of the coupled inductor 3111 is coupled to a main
inductor of the converter 311), and the balance circuit 312
includes the coupled inductor 3111 and N rectifying diodes
D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N.
[0045] FIG. 5(b) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
buck-forward type battery equalization circuit for series
discharging according to the second preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 5(b), the buck-forward type battery
equalization circuit for series discharging 32 includes a load
circuit 220 (including a load resistor R.sub.L and an output
capacitor C.sub.O), a buck-forward converter 321, the balance
circuit for series-connected batteries 312, and the set of
series-connected batteries 121. The differences between the
buck-forward converter 321 and the buck-forward converter 311 of
FIG. 5(a) are that the switch S.sub.1 and the flywheel diode
D.sub.f are switching positions.
[0046] FIG. 5(c) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
buck-forward type battery equalization circuit for series charging
and discharging according to the second preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 5(c), the buck-forward type battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging 33
includes a power source/load 230, a buck-forward converter 331, a
balance circuit for series-connected batteries 312, and the set of
series-connected batteries 121. The difference between the
buck-forward converter 331 and the buck-forward converter 311 of
FIG. 5(a) is that the flywheel diode D.sub.f is replaced by a
switch S.sub.2.
[0047] The differences between the circuits as shown in FIGS.
4(a)-4(c) and FIGS. 5(a)-5(c) are that the Np dot positions of the
coupled inductors 2111/3111 are the reverse of each other.
[0048] Comparing the conventional battery equalization circuit for
series charging (as shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 2(b), including a
charger and a balance circuit) with the circuit as shown in FIG.
4(a), and the results are as follows:
[0049] (1) The conventional battery equalization circuit for series
charging as shown in FIG. 1(b) requires two sets of power source,
and the circuit as shown in FIG. 4(a) requires only one set of
power source.
[0050] (2) The conventional battery equalization circuit for series
charging requires two switches and more components, and the circuit
as shown in FIG. 4(a) uses a single switch S.sub.1.
[0051] (3) The conventional battery equalization circuit for series
charging requires separated controls of the two switches such that
the complexity of the control is increased, and a single control
signal of the switch S.sub.1 is used in the circuit as shown in
FIG. 4 (a).
[0052] (4) The charging of the series-connected batteries 121 and
the control of the batteries in the conventional battery
equalization circuit for series charging are separated, the switch
in the charger/discharger is used as the charging control switch of
the series-connected batteries 121, and the switch of the balance
circuit is the balancing control switch of the series-connected
batteries 121 as shown in FIG. 2(a). In the circuit as shown in
FIG. 4(a), when S.sub.1 (the MOSFET) is under the turn-on status,
it is used as the charging mode of the series-connected batteries
121, and when S.sub.1 is under the turn-off status, the energy in
the coupled inductor 2111 is released to balance series-connected
batteries 121.
[0053] In the circuit as shown in FIG. 4(a) of the present
invention, when S.sub.1 is on, the DC power source DC is connected
to the series-connected batteries 121 and charges in a larger
current, and the coupled inductor is under an energy storage
status, and when S.sub.1 is off, the DC power source and the
series-connected batteries 121 are open-circuited, the coupled
inductor 2111 charges the series-connected batteries 121 directly,
and the primary side Np releases energy to the secondary side
N.sub.S1.about.N.sub.SN, i.e. to charge series-connected batteries
121, and to adjust the individual battery: the battery with lower
electric quantity is charged with more energy, and on the contrary,
the battery with higher electric quantity is charged with less
energy.
[0054] The operational principles of the circuit as shown in FIG.
4(a) of the present invention are analyzed as follows: when S.sub.1
is on, DC goes through the positive terminal (+),
S.sub.1.fwdarw.2111.fwdarw.B.sub.1.fwdarw.B.sub.2.fwdarw. . . .
.fwdarw.B.sub.N.fwdarw. and returns to the DC negative terminal
(-), and DC charges the batteries B.sub.1 & B.sub.2 & . . .
& B.sub.N to store energy therein, and Np of the 2111 is
linearly increased to store energy therein, and when S.sub.1 is
off, 2111 goes through the route of B.sub.1 & B.sub.2 & . .
. & B.sub.N and D.sub.F to release the energy, the energy
stored in 2111 is linearly decreased, the sensed voltages of
secondary windings N.sub.S1, N.sub.S2, . . . , and N.sub.SN are
used to clamp the batteries B.sub.1 & B.sub.2 & . . . &
B.sub.N. The voltages of the batteries in the circuit as shown in
FIG. 4(a) of the present invention are controlled by the respective
turns ratios of N.sub.p and N.sub.S1, N.sub.S2, . . . , and
N.sub.SN, the duty cycle, and the operational frequency, and is
automated clamped to the required voltage values. When the coupled
inductor 2111 is operated under the status that S1 is off, the
sensed current of the secondary windings N.sub.S1, N.sub.S2, . . .
, and N.sub.SN are respectively balance charging the batteries
B.sub.1 & B.sub.2 & . . . & B.sub.N to store the
energy.
[0055] FIG. 6(a) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
boost-flyback type battery equalization circuit for series charging
according to the third preferred embodiment of the present
invention. In FIG. 6(a), the boost-flyback type battery
equalization circuit for series charging 41 includes a power source
210 (it is a DC power source DC), a boost converter 411, a balance
circuit for series-connected batteries 412, and the set of
series-connected batteries 121, wherein the boost converter 411
includes a switch S.sub.1 (it could be a MOSFET), a flywheel diode
D.sub.f, and a primary winding of the coupled inductor 4111
(N.sub.P is the number of turns in the primary side,
N.sub.S1.about.N.sub.SN indicate that the respective number of
turns in the secondary side and the total no. of sets is N, and the
primary winding of the coupled inductor 4111 is coupled to a main
inductor of the converter 411), and the balance circuit 412
includes the coupled inductor 4111 and N rectifying diodes
D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N.
[0056] FIG. 6(b) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
boost-flyback type battery equalization circuit for series
discharging according to the third preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 6(b), the boost-flyback type battery
equalization circuit for series discharging 42 includes a load
circuit 220 (including a load resistor R.sub.L and an output
capacitor C.sub.O), a boost converter 421, the balance circuit for
series-connected batteries 412, and the set of series-connected
batteries 121. The differences between the boost converter 421 and
the boost converter 411 of FIG. 6(a) are that the switch S1 and the
flywheel diode D.sub.f are switching positions.
[0057] FIG. 6(c) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
boost-flyback type battery equalization circuit for series charging
and discharging according to the third preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 6(c), the boost-flyback type battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging 43
includes the power source/load 230, a boost converter 431, a
balance circuit for series-connected batteries 412, and the set of
series-connected batteries 121. The difference between the boost
converter 431 and the boost converter 411 of FIG. 6(a) is that the
flywheel diode D.sub.f is replaced by a switch S.sub.2.
[0058] FIG. 7(a) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
boost-forward type battery equalization circuit for series charging
according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present
invention. In FIG. 7(a), the boost-forward type battery
equalization circuit for series charging 51 includes a power source
210 (it is a DC power source DC), a boost converter 511, a balance
circuit for series-connected batteries 512, and the set of
series-connected batteries 121, wherein the boost converter 511
includes a switch S.sub.1 (it could be a MOSFET), a flywheel diode
D.sub.f, and a primary winding of the coupled inductor 5111
(N.sub.P is the number of turns in the primary side,
N.sub.S1.about.N.sub.SN indicate that the respective number of
turns in the secondary side and the total no. of sets is N, and the
primary winding of the coupled inductor 5111 is coupled to a main
inductor of the converter 511), and the balance circuit 512
includes the coupled inductor 5111 and N rectifying diodes
D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N.
[0059] FIG. 7(b) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
boost-forward type battery equalization circuit for series
discharging according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 7(b), the boost-forward type battery
equalization circuit for series discharging 52 includes a load
circuit 220 (including a load resistor R.sub.L and an output
capacitor C.sub.O), a boost converter 521, the balance circuit for
series-connected batteries 512, and the set of series-connected
batteries 121. The differences between the boost converter 521 and
the boost converter 511 of FIG. 7(a) are that the switch S1 and the
flywheel diode D.sub.f are switching positions.
[0060] FIG. 7(c) shows a schematic circuit diagram of a
boost-forward type battery equalization circuit for series charging
and discharging according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 7(c), the boost-forward type battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging 53
includes the power source/load 230, a boost converter 531, a
balance circuit for series-connected batteries 512, and the set of
series-connected batteries 121. The difference between the boost
converter 531 and the boost converter 511 of FIG. 7(a) is that the
flywheel diode D.sub.f is replaced by a switch S2.
[0061] The buck-flyback type battery equalization circuit for
series charging/discharging, the buck-forward type battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging, the
boost-flyback type battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging, and the boost-forward type battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the first to the fourth preferred embodiments of the present
invention as shown in FIGS. 4(a)-4(c) to 7(a)-7(c) are applicable
to low power applications.
[0062] FIG. 8 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a half-bridge
type battery equalization circuit for series charging according to
the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8,
the half-bridge type battery equalization circuit for series
charging 61 includes a power source 210 (it is a DC power source
DC), a half-bridge DC-DC converter 611, a balance circuit for
series-connected batteries 612, and the set of series-connected
batteries 121, wherein the half-bridge DC-DC converter 611 includes
two switches S.sub.1 & S.sub.2 (they could be two MOSFETs), a
transformer T.sub.1, two DC capacitors C.sub.a & C.sub.b, a
balance capacitor C.sub.ba1, two rectifying diodes
D.sub.a.about.D.sub.b, and a primary winding of the coupled
inductor 6121 (N.sub.2P is the number of turns in the primary side,
N.sub.2S1.about.N.sub.2SN indicate that the respective number of
turns in the secondary side and the total no. of sets is N, and the
primary winding of the coupled inductor 6121 is coupled to a main
inductor of the converter 611), and the balance circuit for
series-connected batteries 612 includes the coupled inductor 6121
and N rectifying diodes D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N, in which the DC
source DC provides electric energy to the half-bridge DC-DC
converter 611 to accomplish the DC-DC conversion function, and the
balance circuit for series-connected batteries 612 is used for the
automatic balance of the charging of the set of series-connected
batteries 121.
[0063] The half-bridge type battery equalization circuit for series
charging according to the fifth preferred embodiment of the present
invention 61 as shown in FIG. 8 is applicable to medium power
applications.
[0064] FIG. 9 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a full-bridge
type battery equalization circuit for series charging according to
the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9,
the full-bridge type battery equalization circuit for series
charging 71 includes a power source 210 (it is a DC power source
DC), a full-bridge DC-DC converter 711, a balance circuit for
series-connected batteries 612, and the set of series-connected
batteries 121, wherein the full-bridge DC-DC converter 711 includes
four switches S.sub.1.about.S.sub.4 (they could be four MOSFETs), a
transformer T.sub.1, a balance capacitor C.sub.ba1, two rectifying
diodes D.sub.a.about.D.sub.b, and a primary winding of the coupled
inductor 6121 (N.sub.2P is the number of turns in the primary side,
N.sub.2S1.about.N.sub.2SN indicate that the respective number of
turns in the secondary side and the total no. of sets is N, and the
primary winding of the coupled inductor 6121 is coupled to a main
inductor of the converter 711), and the balance circuit for
series-connected batteries 612 includes the coupled inductor 6121
and N rectifying diodes D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N, in which the DC
source DC provides electric energy to the full-bridge DC-DC
converter 711 to accomplish the DC-DC conversion function.
[0065] FIG. 10 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an LLC type
battery equalization circuit for series charging according to the
seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10,
the LLC type battery equalization circuit for series charging 81
includes a power source 210 (it is a DC power source DC), an LLC
DC-DC converter 811, a balance circuit for series-connected
batteries 612, and the set of series-connected batteries 121,
wherein the LLC DC-DC converter 811 includes four switches
S.sub.1.about.S.sub.4 (they could be four MOSFETs), a transformer
T.sub.1, a resonant inductor L.sub.r, a resonant capacitor C.sub.r
and two rectifying diodes D.sub.a.about.D.sub.b. The balance
circuit for series-connected batteries 612 includes a coupled
inductor 6121 (N.sub.2P is the number of turns in the primary side,
N.sub.2S1.about.N.sub.2SN indicate that the respective number of
turns in the secondary side and the total no. of sets is N) and N
rectifying diodes D.sub.1.about.D.sub.N, in which the DC source DC
provides electric energy to the LLC DC-DC converter 811 to
accomplish the DC-DC conversion function.
[0066] The full-bridge type battery equalization circuit for series
charging according to the sixth preferred embodiment of the present
invention 71 as shown in FIG. 9 and the LLC type battery
equalization circuit for series charging according to the seventh
preferred embodiment of the present invention 81 as shown in FIG.
10 are the preferred embodiments of the present invention
applicable to large power applications.
[0067] The characteristics of the circuits as shown in the
above-mentioned preferred embodiments of the present invention
(e.g. FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 10) are that the coupled inductor is used
to generate a branch current from the battery equalization circuit
for series charging/discharging so as to balance the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging.
[0068] FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) respectively show a first and a second
processing ways of the balance energy in the battery equalization
circuit for series charging/discharging according to the eighth and
the ninth preferred embodiments of the present invention. The first
processing way is shown in FIG. 11(a), i.e. a current-limiting
element or a DC/AC converting element is connected between a
respective battery (or a respective battery bank) of the set of the
series-connected batteries 121 and each of the two secondary
windings of a magnetic element. The second processing way is shown
in FIG. 11(b), i.e. a current-limiting element or a DC/AC
converting element is connected between a respective battery (or a
respective battery bank) of the set of series-connected batteries
121 and one of the two secondary windings of a magnetic element.
Besides, FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) show the series-connected batteries
121, a current having an AC component i.sub.ac at the primary side
of the magnetic element, and the main charging/discharging current
of the series-connected batteries 121 being I.sub.B.
[0069] FIGS. 12(a)-12(c) respectively show a schematic circuit
diagram of the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging with a respective current-limiting element
being a resistor, an inductor and a transistor, and connected
between each of the secondary windings of a magnetic element being
a voltage transformer, and a respective battery (or a respective
battery bank) of the set of series-connected batteries 121
according to the tenth to the twelfth preferred embodiments of the
present invention. Besides, FIGS. 12(a)-12(c) show the
series-connected batteries 121, a current having an AC component
i.sub.ac at the primary side of the voltage transformer, and the
main charging/discharging current of the series-connected batteries
121 being I.sub.B.
[0070] FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) respectively show a schematic circuit
diagram of the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging with a respective magnetic element being a
coupled inductor or a current transformer, and connected between
each of the secondary windings of the coupled inductor or the
current transformer and a respective battery (or a respective
battery bank) of the set of series-connected batteries 121 with a
diode (being a passive switch) or a rectifying bridge (having 4
diodes) according to the thirteenth and the fourteenth preferred
embodiments of the present invention. Besides, FIGS. 13(a) and
13(b) show the series-connected batteries 121, a current having an
AC component i.sub.ac at the primary side of the coupled inductor
or the current transformer, and the main charging/discharging
current of the series-connected batteries 121 being I.sub.B.
[0071] FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b) respectively show a schematic circuit
diagram of the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging with a respective magnetic element being a
coupled inductor or a current transformer, and connected between
each of the secondary windings of the coupled inductor or the
current transformer and a respective battery (or a respective
battery bank) of the set of series-connected batteries 121 with an
active switch or a transistor (being an active switch and including
two statuses of charging and discharging) according to the
fifteenth and the sixteenth preferred embodiments of the present
invention. Besides, FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b) show the series-connected
batteries 121, a current having an AC component i.sub.ac at the
primary side of the coupled inductor or the current transformer,
and the main charging/discharging current of the series-connected
batteries 121 being I.sub.B.
[0072] FIG. 15 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the seventeenth preferred embodiment of the present invention. When
the magnetic element is a current transformer, it needs an AC power
source. When the input AC signal has an AC component and a DC
component, measures should be taken to delete the DC component so
as to decrease the loss of the magnetic element since the DC
component could not be coupled to the secondary side of the
magnetic element. In FIG. 15, when there are two primary windings
respectively receive two AC input signals having a phase shift of
180 degrees (each of which has an AC component and a DC component),
the two DC components are subtracted from each other and diminished
such that there is only the pure AC component left at the secondary
winding thereof.
[0073] FIGS. 16(a)-16(c) respectively show a schematic circuit
diagram of the battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging according to the eighteenth to the twentieth
preferred embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 16(a), the
magnetic element is a voltage transformer or a current transformer,
the two primary windings of the voltage transformer or the current
transformer are respectively electrically connected to the
switching circuit to receive a respective AC input signal, wherein
the AC input signal is a voltage signal or a current signal. There
is a current-limiting element or a DC/AC converting element
electrically connected between the set of series-connected
batteries 121 and each of the secondary winding of the voltage
transformer or the current transformer. The difference between FIG.
16(b) and FIG. 16(a) is that a primary winding of the voltage
transformer or the current transformer is electrically connected to
the switching circuit to receive an AC input signal, wherein the AC
input signal is a pure AC voltage or a current signal. The
difference between FIG. 16(c) and FIG. 16(b) is that a primary
winding of the voltage transformer or the current transformer
receives an AC input signal from the switching circuit, and the AC
input signal is a current signal having an AC component and a DC
component.
[0074] FIG. 17 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the twenty first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 17, the magnetic element is a voltage transformer or
a current transformer, the two primary windings of the voltage
transformer or the current transformer are respectively
electrically connected to an interleaved switching circuit or a
phase-shift switching circuit to respectively receive two AC input
signals having a 180 degrees phase-shift, wherein each of the two
AC input signals is a voltage signal or a current signal, having an
AC component and a DC component, and there is a current-limiting
element or a DC/AC converting element electrically connected
between the set of series-connected batteries 121 and each of the
secondary winding of the voltage transformer or the current
transformer.
[0075] FIG. 18 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the twenty second preferred embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 18, the magnetic element is a current transformer,
the two primary windings of the current transformer are
respectively electrically connected to a resonant circuit to
receive a respective AC input signal having an AC component and a
DC component, and there is a current-limiting element or a DC/AC
converting element electrically connected between the set of
series-connected batteries 121 and each of the secondary winding of
the current transformer.
[0076] FIG. 19 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the battery
equalization circuit for series charging/discharging according to
the twenty third preferred embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 19, the magnetic element is a current transformer, a
primary winding of the current transformer is electrically
connected to a resonant circuit to receive an AC input signal,
wherein the AC input signal has an AC component and a DC component,
there is an element electrically connected between the set of
series-connected batteries 121 and each of the secondary winding of
the current transformer, and the element could be an active switch
or a passive switch.
Embodiments
[0077] 1. A battery equalization circuit, comprising:
[0078] a balanced charging/discharging circuit, comprising: [0079]
a converter; and [0080] a balance circuit, comprising: [0081] a set
of input terminals; [0082] plural sets of output terminals; [0083]
plural switches; and [0084] a coupled inductor having a primary
winding and plural secondary windings respectively series-connected
to the plural switches, wherein each of the plural sets of output
terminals is connected to a respective one of the plural switches
and a respective one of the plural secondary windings; and
[0085] a set of series-connected batteries having plural batteries,
each of which has a positive terminal and a negative terminal,
wherein each of the plural sets of output terminals is connected to
the positive and the negative terminals of a respective one of the
plural batteries, and the set of input terminals is in one of two
states being coupled to and being series-connected to the converter
to cause a branch current to flow through the plural secondary
windings so as to balance the set of series-connected
batteries.
[0086] 2. A battery equalization circuit according to Embodiment 1,
wherein the balanced charging/discharging circuit further comprises
a first and a second output terminals, the set of series-connected
batteries further comprises a first terminal and a second terminal,
the first terminal is connected to the first output terminal, the
second terminal is connected to the second output terminal, each of
the plural secondary windings and the plural switches has a first
and a second terminals, the positive terminal of each of the plural
batteries is connected to one of the first terminal of the
respective secondary winding and the second terminal of the
respective switch, the negative terminal of each of the plural
batteries is connected to the first terminal of the respective
switch and the second terminal of the respective switch is
connected to the second terminal of the respective secondary
winding when the positive terminal of each of the plural batteries
is connected to the first terminal of the respective secondary
winding, and the positive terminal of each of the plural batteries
is connected to the second terminal of the respective switch and
the first terminal of the respective switch is connected to the
first terminal of the respective secondary winding when the
negative terminal of each of the plural batteries is connected to
the second terminal of the respective secondary winding.
[0087] 3. A battery equalization circuit according to Embodiment 1
or 2, being used for charging, wherein the balanced
charging/discharging circuit is a balanced charger being one of an
AC to DC charger and a DC to DC charger.
[0088] 4. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of the
above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein the DC to DC charger is one
selected from a group consisting of a buck-flyback charger, a
buck-forward charger, a boost-flyback charger, a boost-forward
charger, a half-bridge charger, a full-bridge charger and an LLC
charger.
[0089] 5. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of the
above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein each of the buck-flyback
charger, the buck-forward charger, the boost-flyback charger, the
boost-forward charger, the half-bridge charger and the full-bridge
charger has a main inductor, the main inductor is coupled to the
primary winding of the coupled inductor, the LLC charger is an
LLC-flyback charger connected to the primary winding of the coupled
inductor in series, the plural switches are plural diodes, each of
the plural diodes has an anode and a cathode, the first terminal of
each of the plural switches is the anode of the respective diode,
and the second terminal of each of the plural switches is the
cathode of the respective diode.
[0090] 6. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of the
above-mentioned Embodiments, being used for discharging, wherein
the balanced charging/discharging circuit is a balanced discharger
being one of an AC to DC discharger and a DC to DC discharger.
[0091] 7. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of the
above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein the DC to DC discharger is one
selected from a group consisting of a buck-flyback discharger, a
buck-forward discharger, a boost-flyback discharger and a
boost-forward discharger.
[0092] 8. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of the
above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein each of the buck-flyback
discharger, the buck-forward discharger, the boost-flyback
discharger and the boost-forward discharger has a main inductor,
and the main inductor is coupled to the primary winding of the
coupled inductor.
[0093] 9. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of the
above-mentioned Embodiments, being used for charging and
discharging, wherein the balanced charging/discharging circuit is a
balanced charging and discharging device being one of an AC to DC
charging and discharging device and a DC to DC charging and
discharging device
[0094] 10. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of
the above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein the DC to DC charging and
discharging device is one selected from a group consisting of a
buck-flyback charging and discharging device, a buck-forward
charging and discharging device, a boost-flyback charging and
discharging device and a boost-forward charging and discharging
device.
[0095] 11. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of
the above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein each of the buck-flyback
charging and discharging device, the buck-forward charging and
discharging device, the boost-flyback charging and discharging
device and the boost-forward charging and discharging device has a
main inductor, and the main inductor is coupled to the primary
winding of the coupled inductor.
[0096] 12. A battery equalization circuit, comprising:
[0097] a set of series-connected batteries;
[0098] a switching converter; and
[0099] a magnetic element coupled balance circuit including a
magnetic element coupled to the switching converter, wherein the
magnetic element obtains a branch current from the switching
converter, and the branch current flows to the set of
series-connected batteries so as to cause the set of
series-connected batteries to reach a balance.
[0100] 13. A battery equalization circuit according to Embodiment
12, wherein the branch current is used to cause the set of
series-connected batteries to perform one of a charge and a
discharge so as to reach the balance, the battery equalization
circuit for series charging/discharging is selected from a group
consisting of a battery equalization circuit for series charging, a
battery equalization circuit for series discharging and a battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging, the
magnetic element is one selected from a group consisting of a
coupled inductor, a current transformer and a voltage transformer,
the set of series-connected batteries includes plural battery
banks, each of the plural battery banks has at least one battery,
and the magnetic element has plural secondary windings.
[0101] 14. A battery equalization circuit according to Embodiment
12 or 13, wherein the magnetic element coupled balance circuit
includes plural power switches when the magnetic element is one of
the coupled inductor and the current transformer, each of the
plural power switches has a function being one of rectifying and
AC/DC converting, there is at least one power switch between the
respective secondary winding and the respective battery bank, and
each of the plural power switches is one of an active switch and a
passive switch, wherein the active switch is a transistor, and the
passive switch is a diode.
[0102] 15. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of
the above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein the branch current of the
switching converter has one of a pure AC component, and an AC
component with a DC component, and the magnetic element is used to
provide one of the AC component and the pure AC component as a
balance energy for each of the plural battery banks.
[0103] 16. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of
the above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein one of the current
transformer and the voltage transformer further comprises two
primary windings, and when it is one of two states being that the
two primary windings of the voltage transformer respectively
receive two voltage waves having a phase shift of 180 degrees and
that the two primary windings of the current transformer
respectively receive two current waves having a phase shift of 180
degrees, two DC components included in one of the two voltage waves
and the two current waves are subtracted from each other and
diminished such that there is only the AC component left.
[0104] 17. A battery equalization circuit according to anyone of
the above-mentioned Embodiments, wherein the magnetic element
coupled balance circuit further comprises plural current limiting
elements when the magnetic element is the voltage transformer, and
there is a current limiting element between the respective
secondary winding and the respective battery bank, wherein the
current limiting element is one selected from a group consisting of
a resistor, an inductor and a transistor.
[0105] 18. A controlling method of a battery equalization circuit,
wherein the battery equalization circuit includes a magnetic
element, comprising a step of using the magnetic element to
generate a branch current from the battery equalization circuit so
as to balance the battery equalization circuit.
[0106] 19. A controlling method according to Embodiment 18, wherein
the battery equalization circuit is one selected from a group
consisting of a battery equalization circuit for series charging, a
battery equalization circuit for series discharging and a battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging.
[0107] 20. A controlling method according to Embodiment 18 or 19,
wherein the battery equalization circuit for series charging
comprises a balanced charger being one of an AC to DC charger and a
DC to DC charger, the battery equalization circuit for series
discharging comprises a balanced discharger being one of an AC to
DC discharger and a DC to DC discharger, and the battery
equalization circuit for series charging and discharging comprises
a balanced charging and discharging device being one of an AC to DC
charging and discharging device and a DC to DC charging and
discharging device.
[0108] According to the aforementioned descriptions, the present
invention provides a battery equalization circuit for series
charging/discharging and controlling method thereof. The proposed
battery equalization circuit possesses the advantages of having a
lower cost, a flexible control and a simple protection apparatus,
and being easy to maintain, easy to achieve the battery
equalization, and easy to accomplish the battery management.
[0109] While the present invention has been described in terms of
what are presently considered to be the most practical and
preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present
invention need not be restricted to the disclosed embodiments. On
the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and
similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the
appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
similar structures. Therefore, the above description and
illustration should not be taken as limiting the scope of the
present invention which is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *